[CANCELLED] Functional Music Workshop - Translating Emotion and Movement into Sound

Praveen D. Rao is an accomplished Indian musician, music director, and lyricist specialising in Kannada music, based in Bangalore. A versatile performer on keyboard, tabla, and other instruments, he trained under Pt. R. V. Sheshadri Gawai of Aravinda Sangeetha Vidyalaya and tabla maestro Pandit Ravindra Yavagal, Rao has composed for theatre, ballets, film, television, and commercials.

He has performed at prominent national and international festivals, including the Pattadakal Festival, Navaraspur Festival, Lord Mayor’s Cultural Event (Birmingham, 1994), World Veerashaiva Conference (USA, 1997), World Konkani Conference (Texas, 2002), Soorya Festival, and Nishagandhi Festival. His performances span India, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, the Middle East, Canada and the United States.

Bangalore-based and Grammy®-nominated singer-songwriter Varijashree Venugopal was recognised as a child prodigy who could identify 100 Carnatic ragas at just 18 months, and performing concerts since the age of four. She trained under her musician parents Vidwan H. S. Venugopal and Vidhushi T. V. Rama, as well as Vidhushi H. Geetha, Vidhushi Vasantha Srinivasan, Vidwan D. S. Srivatsa, and later Ganakalanidhi Vidwan Salem P. Sundaresan. Grounded in the intricacy and depth of Carnatic music, Varijashree is one of the pioneering artists known for applying the techniques, fundamentals, and the sound and soul of Indian singing within a global music context.  

Apart from being a singer, Varijashree is also a flautist, composer, and music educator. Her unique vocal capabilities, improvisations, and application of Indian singing techniques to various music cultures have led to collaborations with leading global artists including Bobby McFerrin, Michael League, Snarky Puppy, Victor Wooten, Herbie Hancock, Béla Fleck, Hamilton de Holanda, Eddie Gomez, Anat Cohen, Jacob Collier, Praveen D Rao, C4 trio, Trio Bobo, Anoushka Shankar, and EYM trio, among others.

B.C. Manjunath is a dynamic, acclaimed artist with outstanding credentials and an impressive record of national and international recognition. A recipient of several prestigious awards, he has performed on leading stages across India and abroad, collaborating with renowned artists from diverse genres.

A sensitive and versatile musician, Manjunath is well-versed in Indian classical music, world music, modern jazz, contemporary dance, contemporary classical music, konnakol-taketina, Indian fusion, and more. Proficient in reading, transcribing, and performing from western notation, he has worked closely with composers across traditions. An trained educator, he conducts workshops worldwide to consistent acclaim and has released recordings as an author and collaborator.

Marking India’s 76th Republic Day, Manjunath was invited by the government and the Sangeet Natak Akademi to perform at the prestigious Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, in the presence of the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, and the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi.